Village of New Lenox Board of Trustees Meeting | August 2025

Article Summary: The New Lenox Village Board voted not to object to a Will County special use permit for a commercial solar energy facility on Spencer Road, paving the way for the project to proceed at the county level. Officials determined the 30-acre solar farm would not interfere with the village’s long-term plans for the area, which is largely floodplain designated as open space.

Spencer Road Solar Farm Key Points:

• The project is proposed for a 110-acre parcel on the northeast corner of Spencer Road and the CN Railroad.

• The solar facility itself will occupy approximately 30 acres, avoiding floodplain areas.

• Village staff recommended no objection due to site constraints, including a 50-foot Nicor easement, that make other development difficult.

• The board voted unanimously to not file an objection, with stipulations for site improvements.

A proposed 30-acre solar farm planned for Spencer Road received a favorable review from the New Lenox Village Board on Monday, August 25, 2025.

The board voted unanimously to not file an objection to the Will County Special Use permit requested by Spencer Road Solar East & West, LLC. The project involves installing a commercial solar energy facility on a portion of a 110-acre parcel.

Community Development Director Robin Ellis explained that while the village’s comprehensive plan recommends parks and open space for the site due to a large amount of floodplain, the solar facility would be designed to work around those areas and “would not interfere with that future implementation.” She also noted that a 50-foot Nicor gas easement along Spencer Road makes other types of development, such as adding a sidewalk, problematic.

Mayor Tim Baldermann emphasized the village’s selective approach to such projects. “It’s not that we’re anti-solar, it’s that we are opposed to solar in particular places,” he said, contrasting this proposal with others the village has successfully objected to that could have impacted residential or growth areas.

The board’s motion included stipulations recommended by staff, such as requiring the access drive within the right-of-way to be paved with asphalt or concrete rather than gravel.